Insurance coverage for track time...?

Ins. is null and void during any timed or competitive track event. If you can show that you were at a "drivers school" not affiliated with any type of "track time" organization you may get away with it if anything should happen, other than that, if you smack a wall at NHIS you're on your own.

There are several specialty insurance companies out there that will cover racecars but I don't think you can get that coverage in Mass.

I know a guy who was just "lapping" at NHIS, no stop watches, no wheel to wheel racing and slid into the wall coming outta T-12 in a very nice Cobra replica. After going back & forth for years his insurance did not cover him.

Don't let this scare you though. If you listen to your instructors and if other people on track are minding their manors, you should be ok and can drive to and from events without worry of a damaged car.

 

Have well over 45 days at track and agree with rsvmille676, "If you listen to your instructors and if other people on track are minding their manors, you should be ok and can drive to and from events without worry of a damaged car."

Technically, you are not racing and there is no timing, it is an educational event. Many, many guys tracks their cars and are fine. Yes, things can happen at the track and that is a reality. IMO track time is the best way to learn how to properly drive my sports car. Speeding or "spirited driving' on public roads are probably many times more dangerous than the track. So the track could be considered much safer.

If you are truly apprehensive, attend as a spectator one of the FCA track events and see how you feel about it. Talk to other guys at the track and decide for yourself. FCA's Empire State region holds many excellent track events that are safe, fun, and filled with like-minded safe drivers. Last year i attended many of their events and had a great time.

 

i called commerce today (i'm in cambridge) and they said car would be covered if not racing. they will send me a pam-flit decribing coverage. did you describe to them that it is not racing ...?

 

Who do you currently have for insurance ?

 

today i called their 800 no. 800-222-4242. i described tot he agent that its not racing nor preparation for racing ... she spoke to claims supervisor and told me that i would be covered as long as it is not racing. i also had the same answer from commerce last year. please let me know if they tell you something different.

this topic is also being discussed/been discussed on rennlist racing forum. good info on who does and does not cover track events. laurelde is an option for track only insurance http://www.laurelde.com/index.html

 

First off, in my opinion, Commerce is by far the worst insurer in Massachusetts. Run, run away.

Secondly, in the People's Republic, *all* auto insurance companies are regulated and all automobile insurance rates are dictated by the state ins. commissioner, after negotiations with the companies. There is a _COMMON_ insurance policy, which you can get from any insurer or broker, which describes what is covered and not covered. Every insurer has to use this common language.

Generally speaking, the language is somewhat vague as to whether a DRIVER'S EDUCATION event at a track would be covered. There is a notorious district court ruling wherein one judge decided that an incident would NOT be covered. BUT I know several folks who have been crystal clear and honest in submitting a claim under their Mass policy, and it has been covered.

A good argument can be made that an incident at a DE event should be covered. It will depend in large part on the attitude and position taken by the company -- which is why I would run away from Commerce, ASAP.

(This is about as detailed as I can get.)

vty,

--Dennis

 

what about dedicated track or de insurance ? don't race cars have insurance from specialized agencies ? i remember riding with someone who mentioned he payed 5k a year for his cup car 's insurance

anyone know?

 

i thought commerce represents aaa in southern mass. i bought my aaa policy from commerce and i send them my commerce premiums. i get correspondances from both commerce and aaa.

there are insurance companies that recently amended their policies to explicitly exclude de. e.g. USAA (from their policy)

"Driving contest or challenge includes, but is not limited to:
* * * *
2. An activity that challenges the speed or handling characteristics of a vehicle, or improves or demonstrates driving skills, provided the activity occurs on a track or course that is close from non-participants."

 

I have had three different clients involved in "On Track" incidents and all were denied any sort of coverage. These all happened at Moroso in WPB. Two clients actually sued and won but it was expensive and lengthy.

There are several companies that will cover your car for a particular event. It is stated value coverage and the premium for the event is 10% of the agreed value. Many guys that rent a ride in a race car are required to purchase one of these policies.

 

Have you been following this thread?

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136624

 

Your call really. Track the car and just come to the fact it could be balled up and you are fully and easily willing to just walk away. If you have a hard time with FULLY accepting the ability to just walk away from a mere material object... What matters most is YOU, a car is just a car and can easily be purchased... and they'll always make other/better ones.

 

not yet. they said it will take 7-10 buisness days. i will let you know as soon as i receive the documents.

if you are willing to track your car at your own risk and not file a claim in case something happens then unlikely that comerece would cancel your coverage.

 

Go read your policy. You have a copy of it, unless you threw it away, as you received it when you first signed up and/or when you last renewed. ALL of the applicable language IS IN THERE (well, how it's interpreted is another thing; see my post above).

Bottom line, whether or not insurance will cover you for doing DE, they are NOT going to cancel you if you do do one.

vty,

--Dennis

 

Would it be possible to have 1 or 2 insurance agency reps at the FCA, April 21, Introduction to FCA track events chalk talk?

 

RMDC and LookingForACure, the MA FNA rep is Bruce Ledoux and he tracks various cars quite a bit. He has also written an informative article concerning track events that was published in the FCA NER newsletter. You may want to contact him at ... bruce_ledoux AT ml.com ... as he has personal experience about situations with a car at the track. He's a great guy and very impressive driver PLUS offers personal coaching at track events.

Again, my position is like many others who track that i have spoken to, you really need to understand that things can happen that may or may not be your fault. When these situations happen what matters is that the HUMAN(S) are ok and safe, so please consider making your car as safe as possible, wear Nomex suit, HANS device, etc. It is just a car, though there is only one you... YOU, my friend, are a very limited and highly valuable thing the world enjoys having around for many years to come. A car is just a car, especially any Ferrari made after 1975 or so and can be very easily be replaced. Have been at the track and right in front of me a very rare Ferrari spun and hit the wall crunching the front end. The driver was fine and THAT is what matters most imo.

Frankly, love being at the track and long for the next event the moment the event i have enjoyed has ended. How does the saying go, "Racing is life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting." -- Steve McQueen.

It is up to you and many people track their cars (non-race) every years and a very percentage of them come through without any problems. There is a slim, but non-zero chance given how FCA runs their events. It is just a car. Perhaps my aspect, as had to bury my brother after years of suffering from an incurable disease, made me realize material things mean diddley squat.

Please e-mail Bruce and ask for his article and chat with him about tracking. he is a great guy with plenty of talent.

 

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I have been researching this and the thread is helpful.

I am willing to "self-insure" the car, i.e., live with it it it get's destroyed (more my STI than my Ferrari if I must be honest). Harkening to what enjoythemusic says, life is not only precious, it is expensive. I worry that there is a multi-car accident and someone gets seriously hurt and looks for someone to sue. Making a company CEO into a parapalegic is going to cost you more than wrecking an Enzo. Anyone know whether this aspect of the finacial risk is dealt with in any way?

 

Everything you wanted to know about car insurance and track days:

http://wurthmotorsports.com/car_insurance.asp

 

I appreciate the link, but this is very general/CA oriented and MA is very odd. An attorney friend of mine has been looking into this with me. There is one case referenced in this thread where insurance was denied, but the guy apparently had repeatedly lied, so it can be limited on it's facts. I am waiting for him to send me a more recent case that goes the other way.

 

The infamous case you all might be referring to was sometime in the past 10 years, a guy with a Porsch 911 had a few track crashes that he fought with Commerce over. No idea how it ended, but he was definitely shadey